Portable Cooler Assembly

ABSTRACT

A portable cooler assembly includes a housing that is comprised of a thermally insulating material. A plurality of ice packs is provided and each of the ice packs is selectively frozen. Each of the ice packs is removably positioned in the housing such that each of the ice packs is in thermal communication with the housing. A plurality of drawers is each slidably positioned in the housing for containing food items. Each of the drawers is in thermal communication with the ice packs to cool the food items and the drawers. A door is hingedly coupled to the front side of the housing and the door covers each of the first wells in each of the second wells when the door is closed. A plurality of wheels is each of the wheels is rotatably coupled the housing to roll along a support surface.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

Not Applicable

INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC OR AS A TEXT FILE VIA THE OFFICE ELECTRONIC FILING SYSTEM

Not Applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY THE INVENTOR OR JOINT INVENTOR

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION (1) Field of the Invention (2) Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98

The disclosure and prior art relates to cooler devices and more particularly pertains to a new cooler device for storing food items at a cooled temperature.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a housing that is comprised of a thermally insulating material. A plurality of ice packs is provided and each of the ice packs is selectively frozen. Each of the ice packs is removably positioned in the housing such that each of the ice packs is in thermal communication with the housing. A plurality of drawers is each slidably positioned in the housing for containing food items. Each of the drawers is in thermal communication with the ice packs to cool the food items and the drawers. A door is hingedly coupled to the front side of the housing and the door covers each of the first wells in each of the second wells when the door is closed. A plurality of wheels is each of the wheels is rotatably coupled the housing to roll along a support surface.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the disclosure in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.

The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a portable cooler assembly according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a back view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a left side phantom view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a top exploded view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a front phantom view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 5 thereof, a new cooler device embodying the principles and concepts of an embodiment of the disclosure and generally designated by the reference numeral 10 will be described.

As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 5, the portable cooler assembly 10 generally comprises a housing 12 that is comprised of a thermally insulating material. The housing 12 has a front side 14, a back side 16, a top side 18, a bottom side 20, a first lateral side 22 and a second lateral side 24. The front side 14 has a plurality of first wells 26 extending into an interior of the housing 12 and each of the first wells 26 is horizontally oriented. Moreover, the first wells 26 are spaced apart from each other and are distributed between the top side 18 and the bottom side 20. The front side 14 has a plurality of second wells 28 each extending into the interior of the housing 12 and each of the second wells 28 is vertically oriented. Each of the second wells 28 is positioned between the first wells 26 and an associated one of the first lateral side 22 and the second lateral side 24.

A plurality of ice packs 30 is provided and each of the ice packs 30 is selectively frozen in a freezer or the like. Each of the ice packs 30 is insertably positioned in an associated one of the second wells 28. Thus, each of the ice packs 30 is in thermal communication with the housing 12 to cool the interior of the housing 12. Each of the ice packs 30 may be re-usable ice packs of any conventional design.

A plurality of drawers 32 is provided and each of the drawers 32 is slidably positioned in the housing 12. Each of the drawers 32 may contain food items such as cans of beverage, frozen meat, vegetables and any other food item commonly stored in a cooler for camping, tailgating and other outdoor 40 activities. Each of the drawers 32 is in thermal communication with the ice packs 30 when the drawers 32 are positioned in the housing 12. In this way the ice packs 30 cool the food items and the drawers 32.

Each of the drawers 32 is slidably positioned in an associated one of the first wells 26. Each of the drawers 32 has a front end 34 and the front end 34 corresponding to each of the drawers 32 has slot 36 therein. The slot 36 corresponding to each of the drawers 32 is gripped for sliding the drawers 32 in and out of the housing 12. Additionally, the front end 34 corresponding to each of the drawers 32 is flush with the front side 14 of the housing 12 when the drawers 32 are slid into the associated first slot 26.

A catch 38 is coupled to the first lateral side 22 of the housing 12 and the catch 38 is aligned with the front side 14. A door 40 is hingedly coupled to the front side 14 of the housing 12 such that the door 40 covers each of the first wells 26 and each of the second wells 28 when the door 40 is closed. The door 40 has a first edge 42 and the first edge 42 is hingedly coupled to an intersection between the front side 14 and the first lateral side 22 of the housing 12.

A lock 44 is slidably coupled to the door 40. The lock 44 releasably engages the catch 38 when the door 40 is closed thereby retaining the door 40 is closed. The door 40 has an outwardly facing surface 46 with respect to the housing 12 and the outwardly facing surface 46 may have a well 48 therein. The lock 44 may include a biasing member 50 that is positioned within the door 40 and a grip 52 that is positioned in the well 48. The biasing member 50 may bias the lock 44 to extend outwardly from the door 40 to engage the catch 38. The grip 52 may be manipulated to urge the lock 44 to disengage the catch 38 for opening the door 40.

A plurality of wheels 54 is provided and each of the wheels 54 is rotatably coupled to the bottom side 20 of the housing 12 to roll along a support surface 56. The support surface 56 may be a floor, the ground and any other horizontal support surface 56. A panel 58 is pivotally coupled to the housing 12. The panel 58 is selectively positioned in a first position having the panel 58 being horizontally oriented to support objects in the convention of a table. The panel 58 is selectively positioned in a second position having the panel 58 extending downwardly on the housing 12. The panel 58 has a first edge 60 and the first edge 60 is pivotally coupled to the housing 12. A line 62 is coupled between the panel 58 and the housing 12 and the line 62 retains the panel 58 in the horizontal orientation when the panel 58 is positioned in the first position.

A pair of handles 64 is provided and each of the handles 64 is coupled to the housing 12. Each of the handles 64 is gripped thereby facilitating the housing 12 to be lifted. Each of the handles 64 is positioned on an associated one of the first lateral side 22 and the second lateral side 24. Each of the handles 64 may comprise an inverted cup for receiving fingers when the handles 64 are gripped.

A tab 66 is coupled to and extends away from the back side 16 of the housing 12. The tab 66 is horizontally oriented and the tab 66 has a first surface 68 and a second surface 70. The tab 66 has an aperture 72 extending through the first surface 68 and the second surface 70. A rod 74 is slidably positioned in the tab 66 and the rod 74 is selectively gripped thereby facilitating the housing 12 to be rolled along the support surface 56. The rod 74 has a first end 76 and a second end 78 and a grip 80 is coupled to the first end 76 of the rod 74. The grip 80 on the rod 74 may be oriented transverse with the rod 74. A stop 82 is coupled to the second end 78 of the rod 74 and the stop 82 abuts the tab 66 such that the stop 82 inhibits the rod 74 from is removed from the tab 66.

In use, each of the ice packs 30 is frozen prior to being positioned in the housing 12 and the frozen ice packs 30 are inserted into the associated second wells 28. Each of the drawers 32 is filled with the food items and the ice packs 30 keep the food items cool. Additionally, the drawers 32 and the ice packs 30 inhibit the food items from being exposed to water resulting from melting ice. Additionally, perishable food items, such as vegetables or the like, are protected from blood from thawing meat or the like. The drawers 32 facilitate easy access to selected food items compared to digging through the contents of a conventional cooler. The door 40 is closed and the housing 12 is transported to a remote location such as a camping site, a tailgate party and any other remote location. The door 40 is opened to access selected drawers 32. Additionally, the panel 58 is selectively positioned in the first position to function as a table.

With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure. In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be only one of the elements. 

I claim:
 1. A portable cooler assembly having a plurality of drawers therein wherein each of said drawers is configured to contain food items, said assembly comprising: a housing being comprised of a thermally insulating material; a plurality of ice packs, each of said ice packs being configured to be frozen, each of said ice packs being removably positioned in said housing such that each of said ice packs is in thermal communication with said housing; a plurality of drawers, each of said drawers being slidably positioned in said housing wherein each of said drawers is configured to contain food items, each of said drawers being in thermal communication with said ice packs wherein said ice packs are configured to cool the food items and said drawers; a door being hingedly coupled to said front side of said housing such that said door covers each of said first wells in each of said second wells when said door is closed; and a plurality of wheels, each of said wheels being rotatably coupled said housing wherein each of said wheels is configured to roll along a support surface.
 2. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein said housing has a front side, a back side, a top side, a bottom side, a first lateral side and a second lateral side, said front side having a plurality of first wells extending into an interior of said housing, each of said first wells being horizontally oriented, said first wells being spaced apart from each other and being distributed between said top side and said bottom side.
 3. The assembly according to claim 2, wherein said front side has a plurality of second wells extending into said interior of said housing, each of said second wells being vertically oriented, each of said second wells being positioned between said first wells and an associated one of said first lateral side and said second lateral side.
 4. The assembly according to claim 3, wherein each of said ice packs is insertably positioned in an associated one of said second wells.
 5. The assembly according to claim 2, wherein each of said drawers is slidably positioned in an associated one of said first wells, each of said drawers having a front end, said front end corresponding to each of said drawers having a slot therein wherein said slot corresponding to each of said drawers is configured to be gripped for sliding said drawers.
 6. The assembly according to claim 2, further comprising a catch being coupled to said first lateral side of said housing, said catch being aligned with said front side.
 7. The assembly according to claim 6, further comprising a lock being slidably coupled to said door, said lock releasably engaging said catch when said door is closed thereby retaining said door being closed.
 8. The assembly according to claim 2, further comprising a panel being pivotally coupled to said housing, said panel being selectively positioned in a first position having said panel being horizontally oriented wherein said panel is configured to support objects, said panel being selectively positioned in a second position having said panel extending downwardly on said housing, said panel having a first edge, said first edge being pivotally coupled to said housing.
 9. The assembly according to claim 8, further comprising a line being coupled between said panel and said housing such that said line retains said panel in said horizontal orientation when said panel is positioned in said first position.
 10. The assembly according to claim 2, further comprising a pair of handles, each of said handles being coupled to said housing wherein each of said handles is configured to be gripped thereby facilitating said housing to be lifted, each of said handles being positioned on an associated one of said first lateral side and said second lateral side.
 11. The assembly according to claim 2, further comprising a tab being coupled to and extending away from said back side of said housing, said tab being horizontally oriented, said tab having a first surface and a second surface, said tab having an aperture extending through said first surface and said second surface.
 12. The assembly according to claim 11, further comprising a rod being slidably positioned in said tab wherein said rod is configured to be gripped thereby facilitating said housing to be rolled along the support surface, said rod having a first end and a second end.
 13. The assembly according to claim 12, further comprising a grip being coupled to said first end of said rod wherein said grip is configured to be gripped.
 14. The assembly according to claim 12, further comprising a stop being coupled to said second end of said rod, said stop abutting said tab such that said stop inhibits said rod from being removed from said tab.
 15. A portable cooler assembly having a plurality of drawers therein wherein each of said drawers is configured to contain food items, said assembly comprising: a housing being comprised of a thermally insulating material, said housing having a front side, a back side, a top side, a bottom side, a first lateral side and a second lateral side, said front side having a plurality of first wells extending into an interior of said housing, each of said first wells being horizontally oriented, said first wells being spaced apart from each other and being distributed between said top side and said bottom side, said front side having a plurality of second wells extending into said interior of said housing, each of said second wells being vertically oriented, each of said second wells being positioned between said first wells and an associated one of said first lateral side and said second lateral side; a plurality of ice packs, each of said ice packs being configured to be frozen, each of said ice packs being insertably positioned in an associated one of said second wells such that each of said ice packs is in thermal communication with said housing; a plurality of drawers, each of said drawers being slidably positioned in said housing wherein each of said drawers is configured to contain food items, each of said drawers being in thermal communication with said ice packs wherein said ice packs are configured to cool the food items and said drawers, each of said drawers being slidably positioned in an associated one of said first wells, each of said drawers having a front end, said front end corresponding to each of said drawers having slot therein wherein said slot corresponding to each of said drawers is configured to be gripped for sliding said drawers; a catch being coupled to said first lateral side of said housing, said catch being aligned with said front side; a door being hingedly coupled to said front side of said housing such that said door covers each of said first wells in each of said second wells when said door is closed; a lock being slidably coupled to said door, said lock releasably engaging said catch when said door is closed thereby retaining said door being closed; a plurality of wheels, each of said wheels being rotatably coupled to said bottom side of said housing wherein each of said wheels is configured to roll along a support surface; a panel being pivotally coupled to said housing, said panel being selectively positioned in a first position having said panel being horizontally oriented wherein said panel is configured to support objects, said panel being selectively positioned in a second position having said panel extending downwardly on said housing, said panel having a first edge, said first edge being pivotally coupled to said housing; a line being coupled between said panel and said housing such that said line retains said panel in said horizontal orientation when said panel is positioned in said first position; a pair of handles, each of said handles being coupled to said housing wherein each of said handles is configured to be gripped thereby facilitating said housing to be lifted, each of said handles being positioned on an associated one of said first lateral side and said second lateral side; a tab being coupled to and extending away from said back side of said housing, said tab being horizontally oriented, said tab having a first surface and a second surface, said tab having an aperture extending through said first surface and said second surface; a rod being slidably positioned in said tab wherein said rod is configured to be gripped thereby facilitating said housing to be rolled along the support surface, said rod having a first end and a second end; a grip being coupled to said first end of said rod wherein said grip is configured to be gripped; and a stop being coupled to said second end of said rod, said stop abutting said tab such that said stop inhibits said rod from being removed from said tab. 